Heated Seats and Steering Wheel not that Warm
12-15-17, 01:19 PM
#76
Lead Lap
My 2013 ES had ventilated seats that were whisper quiet, but there wasn't much air flow at all, and, on the ES forum, people frequently complained about how little air flow there was. With my 2017 ES, there is much greater air flow, but there is also an increased level of sound (even though I wouldn't describe the sound level as being annoying). In any case, lots of air flow and complete absence of noise isn't an option. The greater the air flow, the more noise that needs to be created by the air being forced through the small perforations in the seats.
12-15-17, 02:10 PM
#77
It should be noted that, with the ventilated seats, air has to be forced through the very small holes in the perforated seats. If lots of air is forced through those small holes, it is going to make (lots of) noise. Lexus could reduce the noise by reducing the amount of air that is forced through the perforations, but that would also mean that people would be likely to complain about how little air was being recirculated.
My 2013 ES had ventilated seats that were whisper quiet, but there wasn't much air flow at all, and, on the ES forum, people frequently complained about how little air flow there was. With my 2017 ES, there is much greater air flow, but there is also an increased level of sound (even though I wouldn't describe the sound level as being annoying). In any case, lots of air flow and complete absence of noise isn't an option. The greater the air flow, the more noise that needs to be created by the air being forced through the small perforations in the seats.
My 2013 ES had ventilated seats that were whisper quiet, but there wasn't much air flow at all, and, on the ES forum, people frequently complained about how little air flow there was. With my 2017 ES, there is much greater air flow, but there is also an increased level of sound (even though I wouldn't describe the sound level as being annoying). In any case, lots of air flow and complete absence of noise isn't an option. The greater the air flow, the more noise that needs to be created by the air being forced through the small perforations in the seats.
12-15-17, 02:41 PM
#78
Lexus Test Driver
My complaint wasn't so much about the noise, but that it was noisy without results. I cannot feel anything coming out of the seat. I wish that lexus connected the seats with the A/C somehow as it is, it seems to me there is no benefit, but my wife disagrees so it may be only my seat, Who knows, I still like the vehicle
01-01-18, 08:41 AM
#80
Have to Agree
My seats in my 2017 don’t heat as warm as our 2011 Ltd Awd Sienna or my X3 I traded in for the RX. Heated steering on the side vs entire wheel is probably a Lexus ploy to make people keep their hands at the proper wheel position for safe driving. Hey Lexus if you’re reading these posts you need to fix a lot of this and offer us options and accessories that are only offered in Canada and other countries. Stop short changing the US. Plus if your trying to lure customers away from other luxury brands (like me) you really need to up your game. You have the reliability down. Now up the game for suvs don’t just do it to the sports cars. I blackened out ALL the chrome on the car - what a difference for younger Middle Agers that aren’t ready for the old floaty chrome. I have guys in Jaguar FPaces commenting on how much sportier it looks without the chrome. Add the 22 way seats offered in the LS. Lincoln does. Also add a button to manually turn on the wiper deicer - don’t bury it in digital menus.
01-01-18, 09:38 AM
#81
Intermediate
My seats heat rapidly, I can not keep the temp on high for more than a minute, maybe two. I noticed the right side of my seat gets hotter than the left, here's why. Looking down at the seat, on the right side, I can see and feel the heating element, not so on the passenger side. I'm sure it wasn't designed that way and I see no easy fix except to replace the seat and there's no way that's going to happen. On medium it works well enough.
01-02-18, 10:02 AM
#82
Lexus Champion
I have a 2015 GS and a 2016 Highlander, both with heated steering wheels.
On my GS, the wheel gets comfortably warm. On the Highlander it gets so warm I turn it off after a few minutes.
I recently had a new RX loaner for a day while my GS was in for service. I was surprised that I could barely feel the steering wheel heat. No complaints with seat heating, though.
On my GS, the wheel gets comfortably warm. On the Highlander it gets so warm I turn it off after a few minutes.
I recently had a new RX loaner for a day while my GS was in for service. I was surprised that I could barely feel the steering wheel heat. No complaints with seat heating, though.
01-02-18, 11:46 AM
#83
Hmm, my lux 450 wheel at 3 and 9 get warm. I turn it off usually after turning it on so it must get comfortable without gloves.. The auto seat works well. Not scorching hot, but comfortable. Have not turned the heater on high, just auto.
This is in Minnesota, where it has been minus 15 degrees, for days now.
This is in Minnesota, where it has been minus 15 degrees, for days now.
01-03-18, 03:49 PM
#84
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: CA
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I agree with almost everyone - just got my 2017 RX350 Luxury package - my other half already complained that the seats do not heat up like our 2015 Audi Q5 (gonna hear about that forever). I have a 2017 CT200h that I drive for commuting and my seats always get warm and toasty (fake leather) and that's here in Los Angeles - I'm thinking someone mentioned it's the type of leather they use in the luxury version? It's thicker maybe? Does anyone have a non luxury or non leather version and notice any problems??? Haven't really messed with the ventilated seats since it's winter here but the Valley gets sooooo hot so we'll see in the summer!
01-04-18, 06:42 AM
#85
I went into the climate control screen on my RX and noticed that there's an on/off setting for eco heat. Not in my car right now so I don't remember the exact wording but there's an option to save energy on the climate control system. I turned my eco climate control setting to off I'm not really sure if it affected the steering wheel or seat heat temperatures. Has anybody else tried this to see if it affect anything more than just the A/C?
01-04-18, 10:53 AM
#86
Advanced
The technician told me to not use the Automatic setting for seat heating, and rather use the manual setting. Set at maximum, I do feel a difference. Still slow to warm up but it does get hot.
01-04-18, 11:30 AM
#87
I have no beef with the seats but the steering wheel heating locations need to be expanded. I suppose it encourages proper hand placement but I prefer to have heat over the entire steering wheel.
01-04-18, 12:00 PM
#88
Doesn't make any sense! I have the seats on auto and they always start at maximum (in his cold weather) 3 lights, then drop down to 2 & 1 as they get warmer. I can't see how they would be any warmer on manual other than they would stay at max longer.
01-04-18, 12:14 PM
#89
Advanced
I leave it at max all the time except switch to 2 after 30 min or so on long trips.
When automatic, it goes down too rapidly for our Canadian weather.
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